Tour to Shivanasamudram, shomnathpur and ranganathittu
July 19, 2007 – 4:50 pm
This was a package tour from Kstdc, the sate tourism deparment. They provided a semi luxuary bus, which was quite comfortable. One has to reach their Badami house office near Corporation by 7 am to board the bus. This days the deparature time is 7.15 am in most cases. My second tour with Kstdc was also a good one and good thing about this packages is that one can be just with himself/herself. The first stop was Sivanasamudram - a nice waterfall near Malavalli, Mandya district. The waterfall is around 50meters tall on River Kaveri (Cauvery) and is a beautiful sight, especially during monsoon. To reach Sivanasamudram, which is around 140 km from Bangalore:, There are 2 routes.
a) Take Mysore Road, before Mandya, take diversion from Maddur and drive straight towards Malavalli. After Malavalli, speak to locals and they can guide you correctly. One could also return via the same route. This route has good roads and one can enjoy the new Bangalore-Mysore Expressway too.
b) Alternatively, take the National Highway that passes through Kanakapura. Drive straight up to Malavalli and then ask any local villager for directions. They will know. (This is the route to reach Bheemeshwari Fishing Resort).
Best time to visit: September to February
Here the first hydro electricity project in Asia was installed. The two water falls are called Gaganachukki and Barachukki. Read more about them here.
The second stop was Somnathpur temple. Here is the stunning Keshava temple built by one Hoysala army commander. Here looks like time has stoped and one just has to stand and marvel what a wonder it is. Read more about it here.
Kstdc lets you have food on the way sometimes at their own Kstdc restaurants or at private ones. Here as far as I remember they stoped at Kollegal for food. Here food is not all good, somehow you can just manage to have it.
The last stop was Ranganathittu bird santuary. This was the second time I went there and enjoyed as much as I did the first time. Here one can go boating to check the migratory birds which nest on the trees besides cauvery river. At first sight it looks a lake but guys its a river. One might also come across a few crocs while boating. And do not forget to take some good resolution optical zoom camera to capture the birds. The pictures I have taken that time was with a Kodak KB 10 which do not have zoom capability, so you may have to look out for the birds in the pictures. The santuary is marked with species mostly found in there so visitors can know. Read more about it here.
I reached bangalore in the night by 8.45 or so and last is the same Badami house office where from we boarded. One can find auto from there or can walk a little bit to the Mysore bank bus stop to go towards Majestic or near the cubbon park bus stop for MG road/Indiranagar?Airport road etc. Also, the Market bus stand is nearby.
Note: The package price at that time was Rs 600. Please check with Kstdc for recent updates and details.
Some Important Information of Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation
Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation
10/4, Kasturba Road, Bangalore - 560 001. KARNATAKA, INDIA. Telephone: 91-080-22212901 / 2212902 / 2212903, Monday through Saturday, 10:00 am through 5:30 pm,{ISD} (Greenwich+5:30). Fax : 91-080-22272580
KSTDC Central Reservation Counter Badami House,
N.R.Square, Bangalore - 560 002.KARNATAKA, INDIA.Tel : 91-080-22275869 / 2275883. Fax : 91-080-22238016.
KSTDC Central Information Counter City Railway Station,
Bangalore - 560 009. Karnataka, India.Tel : 91-080-22870068.
KSTDC Central Information Counter Bangalore Airport,
Bangalore 560 008. Karnataka, India. Tel : 91-080-25268012.